The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-27
THE TROUBLES OF Capital

THE TROUBLES OF CAPITAL"
The workingmen who have undertaken to
establish a labor organ in New York are in
fair way to learn something of the embarrass-
ments that sometimes beset the capitalist.
Workingmen and employees generally look at
the question from their side, and know nothing
of the difficulties that exist on the side of the
employer. A man who works so many hours
a day and draws his salary regularly at the
end of the week has no further responsibility.
He knows that he works pretty hard himself,
and. as the pay seems to come very easy,
thinks he ought to have more He knows
nothing Of the thousand cares and response
bilities that belong to the management of q
large concern, Of the embarrassment some
times caused by depression Of business, fnan-
cial stringency, etc. He has nothing of the
kind, and it does not occur to him that his
employer may have. The workingmen who
are attempting to establish paper in New
York are getting an accession of information
in this line that may be useful to them.
Having essayed the role of capitalists, which
is but another name for employers, they are
beginning to experience some Of the troubles
of capitalists. Thus, few days ago they had
a strike on their hands. Finding their rev.
enue was not sufficient, they raised the price
of their paper to the newsboys. The
latter organized and sent committee
to the publishers to protest, as is usual in
such cases. The publishers snubbed the com
mittee-in common phrase, "fred them out OF
the Office" just as capitalists sometimes do.
Then the publishers employed new set Of
boys to handle their papers, and the old boys
made open war on them, pelted them with
mud, etc. All this was an embarrassing ex
| perience to the workingmen publish
ers, just such an experience as CAPT
alists sometimes have. Now they
have another trouble on their hands
growing out of their desire to get first-clas
business manager for fourth-class price
This is very hard to do, as capitalists hav
sometimes experienced. The workingmel
paid their former business manager $35
week, but, having discharged him, the
thought they could get a better man for les
money. This would have been good thin
for them to do. if they could do it. Their
was an element of good fnanciering in tn
idea. But there were also the elements of
hitch in it. When they came t
could be got for, they were amazed t
learn that they had been paying less thai
half the usual rate for competent men in sucl
positions, and that some received three O
four times as much. This was another reve
lation to the workingmen tending to Civ
them further insight into the cares and re
sponsibilites that pertain to the capitalist
For no business, whether it be manufactul
ing establishment, packing-house, a print
ing Office, or what not, can be carried on with
, out competent employees; these must be pal
adequate salaries, and where is the money t
come from to meet this and other expenses
and still leave surplus as interest on the in
: vestnent and to compensate the proprietor 70
his time, care, responsibility and anxiety
, These are some of the difficulties that col
: stantly beset the pathway of the employer, {
capitalist, but which employees generally kno
: nothing about. The workingmen who az
; conducting the labor organ are acquiring som
information.